Even as I struggle to understand what Dominic is telling me, I bristle on Brady’s behalf. “That’s not fair.”
“Doesn’t make it not true.”
I’m fighting to stay calm, and I don’t even know what’s got me upset anymore. Is it Dominic flinging Brady in my face, like somehow his age and dedication to his job make him unworthy? Or is it the knowledge that Jacob’s been struggling and I didn’t know?
“I got a psychologist to do an assessment at the end of the school year.”
“And you didn’t tell me?” My voice rises. Classic Dominic. I’m not convinced half the recitals and appointments I missed weren’t because he wouldn’t tell me about them at the last minute. He once threw a fit that I was missing a Christmas pageant because I had a conference call with the Minister of Culture and Tourism, but I’m still sure he only let me know about the pageant the morning it was scheduled.
“I tried to talk about this in the spring, but the festival was on and you were unavailable. And then again once school let out, but you were always distracted.” He glances at me out of the corner of his eyes. “Guess we know why now.”
“Don’t make this about Brady,” I growl. We both know this is about Dominic and me.
Dominic sighs. “We got the results last week. We should talk about them.” He pops open a can of mineral water. I flinch at the carbonated hiss. “There’s a school in Aurora that specializes in helping kids like Jacob.”
“You want to split them up? Don’t you think that’s a bit extreme?” Horror rushes through my veins. They’ve been the only constant in each other’s lives. They were placed with foster parents at birth and came to live with us two years later. We might have been excited, but for them the transition was rough. Whatever our best intentions, suddenly they were living with strangers, taken away from the only parents they had ever known. They’ve never spent so much as a night apart.
Dominic doesn’t seem to care. “I want to help Jacob. We should at least go see it.”
“Can’t we start smaller? There must be tutors. Brady knows someone. I’ll see if that’s the sort of thing he does.”
“This isn’t his problem. This is about what’s best for our son,” Dominic says, then has the audacity to look apologetic. “I’m sorry to spring all of this on you. I’ve tried before but—”
“Yeah.” The old guilt washes over me. So many missed conversations. Missed signals. The festival isn’t brain surgery, but I’ve treated it like a house of cards that will fall apart without me. In the process, I’ve handed my family’s reins to Dominic, and now he’s talking about separating the boys because of a problem I didn’t know existed an hour ago.
“And school will be starting soon, so we’re already late making decisions,” Dominic says.
“It’s fine,” I say. “Whatever you need. I’ll be there.” That’s what I promised the kids. When I moved out, I looked at them and said, “It’ll be okay. I’ll be here whenever you need me.” And before. We literally chose them. We stared the social workers and even the judge in the eyes and said, “Yes. The twins. They are ours.”
And I have never been the father they needed. I did my best, but I failed in so many small ways, until Dominic said I couldn’t live with them anymore. But they need me now. The idea of sending them to separate schools doesn’t sit well at all, and the set of Dominic’s shoulders says he’s made up his mind. He never was good at putting in the hard work, instead looking for magic solutions or pulling the plug before all the options have played out.
Whatever they need.
My heart squeezes at the thought, but I promised them, and now, at the very least, I’m going to have to put in the work. I found a way to make all this time to spend with Brady this summer, and now I know I’ll have to give that to my kids, because what Dominic is proposing feels incredibly dangerous.
Family has to come first.
23
Brady
Two days later and I still haven’t heard from Nash.
Well, okay, not totally true. I texted on Tuesday when he didn’t call after soccer on Monday night. His reply wasSorry, game ran long.
But he doesn’t call or come over after work. I’m busy getting ready for Lena to start and rounding up the last of the gear and contractors to do Bill’s tutoring centre install, so it doesn’t seem like an issue.
But Wednesday rolls around and I still don’t hear from him. I text a few times but don’t get a reply.
After work, I call him.
“Hey. How you been?”
“Good.” He doesn’t sound good. “You?”
“Great! I hired someone. She started today. I think she’s going to be amazing. With any luck, she’ll be able to take over the football phone by Thanksgiving.”
“That’s really good. I’m glad you found someone.”
